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Kelsey Klassen
Digital PortfolioA new era at Vancouver’s oldest alt-weekly 22 Nov 2016, 3:04 am
In a job interview once—years ago—I was asked an impossible question: “So,” the person inquired, inscrutably. “Are you a writer? Or an editor.”
I took a few seconds to think about it, and my mind raced. Not about what the right answer should be, but what the answer was at all.
“Both,” I declared finally, with just the smallest hint of uncertainty in my voice. You see, until that moment, I didn’t realize the job could boil down to being one or the other, and I didn’t want to have to choose.
Thankfully, I haven’t had to.
For nearly five years now, I’ve had the privilege of working at the Westender as the arts and style editor. On a small team in today’s rapidly changing media landscape, it meant doing as much writing as managing, laying out pages, organizing photo shoots, brainstorming brand strategy, and growing our social media community. It meant planning content, following up with freelancers, attending events and shooting photos. It meant learning as much as humanly possible from my editors, so that I understood every aspect of my role to the best of my ability. It meant filling in as the editor when vacation season rolled around.
It also meant helping freelancers, friends and colleagues shape their stories into the kind of experiences that keep readers coming back for more. And then it meant writing some more, with each story aiming to be compelling enough to bear the ultimate stress test of my byline at the top of the page.
Now, as I step into the role of editor of this 67-year-old newspaper—the city’s longest-running alternative weekly—it feels like very little is changing, and everything is changing all at once.
I look forward to the challenge, especially as I continue on as editor-in-chief of VITA magazine. I can also rest easy now, knowing that I gave the right answer all those years ago. I’m a writer and an editor. No uncertainty here.
Know an amazing person? See an issue or area of the city that needs more coverage? I want to know: editor@westender.com
Meet the Masters: Hermès visits Vancouver 10 Oct 2016, 1:58 am
Last week, artisans from Hermès headquarters in France set up shop along the waterfront near the Vancouver Convention Centre, and demonstrated the techniques behind the 179-year-old fashion house.
Ever wonder why an Hermès bag costs $10,000? “Hermès At Work” provided some clues, as stylishly dressed seamstresses, silkscreeners, saddlemakers, gem-setters, graphic designers and painters worked away to the astonishment of the flowing crowd.
As the artists explained their métiers (or trades), translators revealed the eye-opening stats and facts, like how it takes up to 40 screens to print a single Hermes scarf (all done by hand, of course) or that it can take 12 months to separate the layers of a single design for printing, or that they weave their own silk, build their own screen presses, mix their own colours, and just generally love what they do.
We also shared a smile when one speaker revealed that each Hermès bag carries the signature of its maker somewhere inside, and if there is ever a problem with your Birkin, the bag is sent back to the person who made it and they are “shamed”, as only the French can imply.
We’d love to see more traveling exhibitions like this, and are looking forward to when Coach sets up shop in the atrium at Pacific Centre next month to do something similar for their 75th.
Of all the demonstrations, the ones involving ink and canvas were the most inspiring to me. Hot on the heels of a photogenic IDS Vancouver, my phone ultimately filled up with snaps and videos from the show, though, so I leave you with what I was moved to capture before my dastardly memory card ran out. —KK